By Aminu Kutama
Britain’s Conservative party, on Monday announced Liz Truss as its new leader to succeed Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The foreign secretary comfortably beat her rival, former finance minister Rishi Sunak, by about 57 to 43 percent after a gruelling summer-long contest decided by just over 170,000 Conservative members.
In a short victory speech at the announcement in a central London convention hall, Truss said it was an “honour” to be elected after undergoing “one of the longest job interviews in history”.
“I campaigned as a Conservative, and I will govern as a Conservative,” she said, touting Tory values of low taxes and personal responsibility.
Truss, 47, will be only the UK’s third female prime minister following Theresa May and Margaret Thatcher.
She will formally take office on Tuesday, after Johnson tenders his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II.
Former PM, Boris Johnson, who resigned back in June after a nearly three-year leadership has shared his thoughts and well-wishers as Truss was named his predecessor.
Sharing in a post on his Twitter, Johnson expressed his confidence in Truss’ ability to deliver on expectations.
“I have been proud to serve as leader of the Conservative Party for the last three years, winning the biggest majority for decades, getting Brexit done, overseeing the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe and giving vital support to Ukraine.”
“I know she has the right plan to tackle the cost of living crisis, unite our party and continue the great work of uniting and levelling up our country,” he added.
Boris also called on all conservatives to rally behind the new PM.
“Now is the time for all Conservatives to get behind her 100 per cent.”
